Bonshak Mvp In Asd Tourney

Catty Takes Team Title

December 09, 1990|by ERNIE LONG, The Morning Call

All things considered, Doug Bonshak would probably have rather been in Hershey yesterday competing in the PIAA 3A championship football game.

But since Whitehall fell to eventual state champ Bethlehem Catholic in the District 11 title game, the Zephyr running back will have to settle for being the MVP of the seventh annual Allentown School District Invitational Wrestling Tournament held last night at Dieruff High School.

Bonshak won an unprecedented fourth tournament championship by drubbing Emmaus' Andy Derr 16-6 in the 145-pound championship bout. Bonshak, who won at 140 last year, 119 the year before and 105 as a freshman, pinned his first two foes to earn a championship berth.

But his efforts were not enough to get his team the overall title as the Zephyrs fell short of repeat champion Catasauqua 181 to 138. Allen, which has won four previous team titles, finished third with 136-1/2 points.

The Rough Riders took four firsts, three seconds and a third.

"Some things that happened I expected, some things I didn't. It all equalled out," said Catty head coach Mike Conners.

The Roughies are expected to be among the area's wrestling elite, if not the best, this winter.

"We're not used to that," said Conners. "We'd rather be the hunter than the hunted. There's a lot of pressure on us. We have a lot of work to do."

"I think the underclassmen did a real good job," said Conners. "My average wrestlers are the key to my team. Joe needed that win for himself for confidence. He's worked hard all summer long."

Stofko, who collected a pair of pins to get to the championship, garnered a pair of penalty points from Brown, who suffered a gash on his forehead toward the end of the bout. The bout was scoreless over the first two periods.

"I've been waiting the last two years for a chance to prove myself. I think this will be the year," said Stofko. "He's a tough kid. I figured I had to stop his offense."

He continued, "I'm not sucking as much weight as I was. Last year I pulled a lot of weight and it seemed to hurt me because I'm not as quick as the little guys."

Bonshak led 4-1 after one period and 10-2 after the second and was in control the whole way despite not being in wrestling shape yet.

"I just started after Thanksgiving and it's tougher to get in shape for wrestling than football. But it feels pretty good to win this four times," said the 5-9 tailback who rushed for over 1,100 yards and scored 25 touchdowns this year.

One of the more important matches was at 119 where two-time ASD champ Dan Wagner (Allen) faced one-time champ Kyle Rusnock (Catty).

Rusnock, who took fourth in last year's PIAA 2A meet, took the offensive and went up 2-0 after a takedown. But a barrel roll by Wagner, who finished third in the region last year, with 15 seconds left in the first period put him up for good 5-2 and he won 11-2.

"I wanted to look for competition with the Christmas City tournament coming up, but I thought he'd be down a weight," said Wagner of his tough opponent.

"I was sort of nervous. Then he took me down right away and I wasn't expecting that. But my barrel roll helped."

The other Allen firsts were at 125 (Pete Schemm) and 130 (Jose Rivera).